Why Do Soccer Players Walk Out With Kids?

If you've ever watched the pregame ceremonies of a soccer match, you've probably noticed a sweet detail: the players always walk onto the field holding the hands of kids, who are dressed like an adorable little squad themselves. Or maybe you've seen one of the many videos that's gone viral, featuring a cute moment between a young fan and a soccer hero as they stand together on the field.

The children who walk out with the players are called"player escorts" or"mascot children," and they've been part of soccer games for well over 20 years now. One of the earliest photos of children walking as mascots was published inafter a November 1996 match between Liverpool and Everton. Beginning around 2000, the practice as it is today began: one escort for each player, rather than just one or two per team.

Early on, the practice of having children escort the players doubled as a way to raise awareness for charitable causes. Ahead of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, FIFA and UNICEF partnered on a program called Say Yes For Children, which aimed"to promote and protect the right of all children to healthy recreation and quality primary education," according to a.

Starting in 2002, McDonald's became a key sponsor of the mascot program at the World Cup and European Championships, offering parents and childrenone of those coveted spots. In 2014, McDonald's reportedly sent 1,400 kids from 70 different countries to the World Cup in Brazil, according tocreated the CommBank FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Player Escort Programme.

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